MY 1st Oil Change with Ester OIL
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 273
Likes: 2
From: Council Bluffs Iowa
First, I recommend you back up a couple of pages and
read my post on what Nissan Ester is and exactly how
it works and what it does in these engines. Simply
put, it reduces friction between the parts of your
engine that are coated with Nissan's proprietory
engine coating. So, to make a long story short
you may actually notice your engine is not
running as smoothly without it. You will
undoubtedly see a decrease in MPG as well.
The variable valve actuator system in this
engine is driven by oil pressure. There
is plenty of evidence that ester oils provide
noticibly quicker pressure build-up and
decrease in this system which would also
contribute to your observations.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
Good response, thanks. I also use Nissan Ester, but only because
Nissan gave me a three year service contract after giving them
some extensive feedback on their "recommended use" of their
oil. If I still own the car after three years, I will be switching
to Redline.
There is plenty of convincing documentation as to why "ester" is
recommended in the VVEL. The VVEL has some incredibly tight
tolerences and generates heat very quickly. The nano-technology
in the Nissan Ester oil really does a great job of reducing friction
and the resulting heat in the VVEL system, but I have doubts
about the ester content and base oils used in it due to it's
proprietory formula being unknown except for what is available
in Nissan's "white papers". Ester bases are far superior to other
base groups...it's polarity causes it to flow towards heat instead
of away from it like other base groups. It's polority give it a
lingering and sticking property that provides superior pressure
build-up as compared to other base groups. Ester will
naturally flow into much tighter spaces than other base
groups. Since ester molecules "seek" contact with the metal,
it provides superior protection from varnish and sludge formation
that over time, other base groups will just flow over.
The VVEL throttle is driven by a motor-actuator mechanism
that regulates the intake valves......as compared to the previous
variable valve systems that responds to a "butterfly" valve
first. The speed of oil pressure building in the drive spool
has direct effect on "throttle response" in the VVEL....it's
an entirely new mechanical concept. Simply put, ester builds
pressure faster, allowing faster valve reaction in the VVel.
What I don't understand is why people with no understanding
of Tribology other than "this is what I use" or "my brother
the mechanic says" feel they need to chastise and make
ignorant negative comments to people who chose to use
Ester oil. I can tell you this...more and more VVEL owners
are switching to esters according to what I'm reading
on the various Nissan and oil forms after they've had
"limp mode" and premature actuator failure and noise
due to VVEL heat issues......Marketing pressure or
educated decisions???? Hey it's your engine, use
what you want or can afford, but do some homework
on why Nissan developed and recommends their oil
for the VVEL rather than telling people it's only
about marketing.
Nissan gave me a three year service contract after giving them
some extensive feedback on their "recommended use" of their
oil. If I still own the car after three years, I will be switching
to Redline.
There is plenty of convincing documentation as to why "ester" is
recommended in the VVEL. The VVEL has some incredibly tight
tolerences and generates heat very quickly. The nano-technology
in the Nissan Ester oil really does a great job of reducing friction
and the resulting heat in the VVEL system, but I have doubts
about the ester content and base oils used in it due to it's
proprietory formula being unknown except for what is available
in Nissan's "white papers". Ester bases are far superior to other
base groups...it's polarity causes it to flow towards heat instead
of away from it like other base groups. It's polority give it a
lingering and sticking property that provides superior pressure
build-up as compared to other base groups. Ester will
naturally flow into much tighter spaces than other base
groups. Since ester molecules "seek" contact with the metal,
it provides superior protection from varnish and sludge formation
that over time, other base groups will just flow over.
The VVEL throttle is driven by a motor-actuator mechanism
that regulates the intake valves......as compared to the previous
variable valve systems that responds to a "butterfly" valve
first. The speed of oil pressure building in the drive spool
has direct effect on "throttle response" in the VVEL....it's
an entirely new mechanical concept. Simply put, ester builds
pressure faster, allowing faster valve reaction in the VVel.
What I don't understand is why people with no understanding
of Tribology other than "this is what I use" or "my brother
the mechanic says" feel they need to chastise and make
ignorant negative comments to people who chose to use
Ester oil. I can tell you this...more and more VVEL owners
are switching to esters according to what I'm reading
on the various Nissan and oil forms after they've had
"limp mode" and premature actuator failure and noise
due to VVEL heat issues......Marketing pressure or
educated decisions???? Hey it's your engine, use
what you want or can afford, but do some homework
on why Nissan developed and recommends their oil
for the VVEL rather than telling people it's only
about marketing.
Search function please; PDFs and videos have been posted countless times.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
How about some real oil analysis info. I have used Ester oil from the beginning on my G. Finally pulled a UOA and it shows that the oil is shearing horribly in only 3600 miles and the wear metals are through the roof. It may keep the car quieter, but for $12-15 per quart, it is clearly an inferior oil........
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 154
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I can tell you.........It is NOT a synthetic and it shears horribly, just like a dino oil.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
Maybe I can't tell you what the Ester additive does under heat, but I am fuming that they have the nerve to charge what they do for this oil and it breaks down like it does. Synthetic does not break down as quickly. And as for what the ester does, I could give a flip less with the wear metals this oil causes in the engine. Who cares, the oil is not doing you any good other than draining your wallet.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
And I was quite disappointed with my first UOA, so as I see it my posts were relevant to the thread.........
I was a huge supporter of Ester as it was recommended by Infiniti, but simply wanted to add my .02. YMMV.
We can all guess at how well the oil works, but the UOAs are not going well with this oil.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 797
Likes: 3
From: Maryland
You mean about 8 months ago when he started the thread? I think we've covered it enough since then that it didn't really need to be revived.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
I did not realize that we could not add comments that were relevant to a thread that recent opinions on the subject were unwelcome. Its you guys that give forums a bad name. And for the record, when I see a thread, I do not go back and look at dates if there has been a recent post so as not to offend all you thread police here. Get a life guys.
I should be more on you guys for chastising me. If you don't think my post is relevant, ignore it. But no, we have to go beat up on someone about what we perceive as a wrong and take the thread somewhere else to show how BAD we are. We were so offended by a relevant comment to the OP...........at LEAST my post was relevant to the topic instead of morally superior like you guys whining about how I was posting on an old thread or covering information that was already discussed.
So to summarize. You guys dogged me about posting in an old thread on topic. While you then posted AFTER me with posts that had NOTHING to do with the topic of this thread. Ok, got it....................
I should be more on you guys for chastising me. If you don't think my post is relevant, ignore it. But no, we have to go beat up on someone about what we perceive as a wrong and take the thread somewhere else to show how BAD we are. We were so offended by a relevant comment to the OP...........at LEAST my post was relevant to the topic instead of morally superior like you guys whining about how I was posting on an old thread or covering information that was already discussed.
So to summarize. You guys dogged me about posting in an old thread on topic. While you then posted AFTER me with posts that had NOTHING to do with the topic of this thread. Ok, got it....................
Last edited by g37musings; Jul 15, 2010 at 04:41 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 797
Likes: 3
From: Maryland
Not whining, just saying many of us have collectively changed our opinions on the ester oil since learning new information about it in the past few months.
I apologize for responding to you rudely about it -- the same thing you mentioned pisses me off here and in other forums so I probably shouldn't do it too.
I apologize for responding to you rudely about it -- the same thing you mentioned pisses me off here and in other forums so I probably shouldn't do it too.
Chastizing you? Jesus christ. I just asked if you read the sticky at the top of the page which has a lot of UOAs in it and discussion about what you posted.
If thats considered chastizing I wont ever try to steer people towards additional information.
If thats considered chastizing I wont ever try to steer people towards additional information.